understanding about the matter of destiny
I must emphasize the fact that as a Muslim, you MUST believe in Qadr (destiny). Even if you don’t yet fully understand it, accept it for now. It is one of the articles of faith in Islam and cannot be discarded.
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/10948?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook/limits-of-human-free-will/
Tawakkul means putting
in one’s best efforts—leaving no stone unturned, and then putting one’s trust
in Allah and not in one’s own efforts or availability of the means one has,
because whatever the outcome, it comes about only with the approval and decree
of Allah and not otherwise. It is reported that one day Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin,
“Why don’t you tie down your camel?” The Bedouin answered, “I put my trust in
Allah.” The Prophet then said, “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in
Allah.”
To
work and to strive is within the ability and the limits of man..whether the
striving is accepted or not, or whether the desired result is achieved or not
is entirely in the Blessed Hands of the Lord Most Majestic Who Created Alone!.
We are not like robots that have no choice in our actions. Everything happens by the will of God but at the same time we have a free will to choose our choices and this is why we are accountable for our actions.
From the outset, we should point out that this is an issue in which the world’s greatest minds have applied themselves, and on account of which many people have lost their way. The Prophet’s Companions did not speak about questions of free will and determinism. They did not need to, because their faith was so strong and left no room for the types of doubts to take root which instigate this line of thinking
God directs commands and prohibitions at us makes sense only if we are free to comply. Otherwise, we would be commanded to do that which is outside of our capacity, since our compliance or non-compliance would be predetermined. Therefore, it makes no sense to make demands of entities that have no ability to comply with those commands.
If people were not free in their choices, their argument against God – that they had no guidance – would not become invalid after God sent the messengers, since if they were compelled in their actions, it would make no difference whether or not they received guidance.
Finally, we have practical, a priori knowledge that we carry out actions by our own will and choice. We decide what to do and what to abstain from, without any sense of being compelled in our decisions. This applies to even the smallest of willful actions, like sitting and standing, entering our homes and departing, as well as more substantial decisions like marriage and divorce or deciding to relocate to another city. This is why we feel it most acutely if someone else tries to force us to do something we do not want to do. And this is also why God does not hold us legally accountable for what we do under compulsion.
This hadith was originally narrated by Ibn-i-Abbas: “One day I was riding behind the Prophet (SA). He commanded: ‘Son! Let me tell you a few words (to memorize). Respect Allah, that is, take care to stay away from what is forbidden. Consider that you will find Him facing you.’ He went on to say ‘Whenever you want anything, ask for it from Allah. Whenever you need help, ask for it from Allah.
Even if all creatures were to combine there forces in unison, desiring to offer you some kind of advantage or benefit, they will not be able to grant you anything more than what Allah has prescribed for you. Also, even if all the creatures were to combine forces to harm you, they would not be able to do any more than what Allah has approved for you. Everything has been written, and all the pages have been completed and the ink is long dry.’”
This is a hadith that every believer should keep like a mirror in their heart. They should act in this way, they should work in this way and end their life in this way. With the mercy and help of Almighty Allah may they be safe and sound from the difficulties of the world and the hereafter.
In this hadith, it is stated that a servant of Allah should arrange all of their behavior and actions in the knowledge that everything is always in the hands of Allah Almighty and subject to His divine acceptance.
When a servant of Allah reaches the complete understanding that Allah is the one and only owner of everything, they are then able to comprehend that whatever position a person finds themselves in they are nothing more than helpless humans with only limited powers.
Therefore, they can rely neither on their name nor their possessions, nor their children. They then know that everything occurs with the help of Allah Almighty and this increases one’s knowledge, devotion, love and resignation. Then a person stops expecting anything from created beings. They know that all the difficulties will come to an end if they are patience, and at the end of every trouble there is ease, relief and comfort.
Now reading this hadith, it may seem as if you have no choice in how things turn out. You might think you have no free will and that Allah has already planned out everything you’re going to do and that’s the end of the story.
Not so fast.
There are four parts to believing in Destiny in Islam.
Allah’s Knowledge: Basically, this is accepting that Allah knows EVERYTHING. He knows what has happened and what has not happened. He knows what would have happened if something did not happen. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, escapes His knowledge. Get it? Got it? Good.
The Writing: This means that everything in existence, all actions, speech, events, EVERYTHING, was recorded in the Preserved Tablet (Lawhil Mahfuz). This is confirmed in the Quran where Allah states: “Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” Chapter 22, verse 70.
Allah’s Creation: Accepting that Allah has created all things. This includes physical things like humans and animals, as well as non-tangible things like our actions and world events.
Allah’s Will: Accepting that nothing happens outside of Allah’s will. If Allah does not will for something to happen, then it will never take place. And if Allah wills for something to happen, then with absolute certainty, it will happen.
Qadar and Qadaa Destiny and Decree
When we use the the word Qadaa in this sense, we are talking about Allah’s decree. Your birth, your death, natural disasters, accidents, and things like this are all part of Allah’s decree. They are things that no one has any control over.
You have some control over your Qadar. You can choose to believe in Islam or not. You can choose to go to work or not. You can choose to run through the streets naked as a jaybird.
Qadar are the things that happen in all of our lives, both big and small. When you get up in the morning, pray, brush your teeth, eat breakfast and then head out for work, these are all part of your Qadar.
“Qadaa” means “decree” or “order.” A similar word is Qadiyy, which is a Judge.
When we use the the word Qadaa in this sense, we are talking about Allah’s decree. Your birth, your death, natural disasters, accidents, and things like this are all part of Allah’s decree. They are things that no one has any control over.
You have some control over your Qadar. You can choose to believe in Islam or not. You can choose to go to work or not. You can choose to run through the streets naked as a jaybird.
Or not.
But you have no control over Allah’s decree. You may choose to work, but you cannot choose to be wealthy. Your wealth is part of Allah’s decree.
You may choose to live a healthy lifestyle, but you cannot choose to always be healthy. If so, then no one would ever get sick! Sickness and health are part of Allah’s decree.
If you decide to work hard and live healthy, then you are living out what was written for you in the Preserved Tablet. And if such habits lead to more money and health, then that is Allah’s decree.
Likewise, if the stock market crashes and you lose all of your wealth, or if you are suddenly diagnosed with a serious illness, that is all part of Allah’s decree which you have no control over.
Abdullah then makes the decision, with his own free will, to change his life around and become a more dutiful slave of Allah.
we have free will and are not being treated unjustly by Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said that the dua can alter Qadar. So some things that happen on a daily basis can be changed by dua.
Things like sickness, accidents, and other tragedies can be averted through dua.
I hope this helps you understand, Inshallah. Qadar and Qadaa are very deep subjects and you should not spend too much time fretting over them.
Just put your trust in Allah and make dua to Him constantly, and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as best as you can.
And Allah knows best.
received the first revelation in 610AD at the Cave of Hira (Ghar ul Hira)
during Umar’s Caliphate
